cleveland



C. HnCLEVELAND, 0F SELMA, ALABAMA.

Letters Patent No. 80,142, dated July 21, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT 1N SUSPBNDERS.

71H3 Srlgrbnlr nfrrnt tu in tlpse intim rtent :nu making part uf its same.

'ro-ALL WHOM IT MAY conci-:RN:

Beit known that I, C. H. CLEVELAND, of Selma, county of Dallas, and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Braces and Suspenderspand I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the letters of 4reference marked thereon, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan-view of my suspenders, with the catch left free. Figure 2 is a plan view of my suspenders, with the catch fastened. Figure 3 is my improved suspender applied to the human form. On' the 8th day of October, 1867,'a patent was issued to me by the Patent. Oliice, for an improvement in shoulder-braces and Suspenders. The principle involved in that patent, constituting, as it did, the gistoi` the inventioiuand which is fully stated in the specification which accompanies the same, is that the shoulder-straps' are Yso arranged that they pass inthe rear of the lungs, and at the same time are united together at a point and in such a manner as to forrrfa fork, being sufficiently far hcnea'th'the arm-pit as t'orender'it impossible-fer the straps to be brought in such close contact with the cavity or under portion of the arm as to impede in any degree the frcest circulation and respiration.

' Since the issue of my patent, hundreds have used -the Suspenders, and all fully attest, not only the value and entire practicability of my invention, but that the same does in actual use possess all the advantages claimed. Still a few isolated cases have been met with of' persons who are exceedingly weak-breasted or very roundshouldered, and in such cases it seemed desirable' to' have the bracing properties of 'the suspender increased, so `as to render the same less yielding, and consequently augment the power ofthe resisting force of the same, and thus compel the body to be thrownforward and occupy a perpendicular position, no matter how great the natural tendency to stoop may be. y l

.To render my invention entirely applicable to all cases, and especially to meet the wants of the class of persons alluded te, i. c., to furnish them with 'a suspender constructed on the same principle as my patent, but so arranged that its bracingpropcrties can at pleasurevbe greatly increased, and at the same time being entirely susceptible of adjustment, the degree of pressure can Areadily be regulated, or, when desired, entirely withdrawn. To attain the foregoing result is the object of my present invention, and to accomplish which apply to 'each of the shoulder-straps a metallic slide', on one of which is a snap-catch, and on the other a hook, the whole heing'constructed similar to the well-known snap-catch used on garters, and for other similar purposes. When 'the natural bracing properties of the suspender are suiieientfthc catch can be left free, but when the bracing properties of the suspender are desired to be increased, the catch is fastened, and the slides can be moved so as to a'ord any degrec'lof pressure necessary; and still at the same it will be observed that, acting as they do, upon the well-known principle of the hinge-joint, 'they are freed from all the uncomfortable rigidity that would of necessity ensue from a buckle of twice their width across the spine.

To enable'others skilled in the art to make' und use my invention, Lwill now proceed to describe its construction and operation. l y

A are two pieces of leather or other suitable material, oflozenge, diamond,'or any other convenient form. In these pieces A-Al cut a button-hole, a. f B B are two shoulder-straps, and arc constructed of elastic webbing or othersuitable material. One end of cach of these shoulder-straps Bis attached to the leather, A, as described in my former patent, or by any other convenient means. 0n these shoulder-straps B B, I pince two metallic slides, C and C', one on each strap. The slide C is provided with aV hook, c, and the slide Ci is provided with a catch, c. l

When the natural bracing properties 'of the suspender-s are sufficient, the'slidcs are left free, as shown in fig. 1. When-it is desired to increase the bracing properties of the Suspenders, the slides are fastened as shown in iig. 2, when the degree of pressure cnn be regulated by moving the slides attached on the shoulder-straps; when less pressure is required on the straps, towardX. When greater pressure is required, move them towards Y.`

Thus it will be readily seen that any degree of pressure can be obtained that is required. A Havjvngjzhus fully described my invention,what I claim therein as new, rand desire to secnre yby Letters Paltent of the United States,l is- A suspender or shoulder-brace, composed of two single straps BB, Yearch passing fron; theettaiching-strap on the side over the shoulder to the attaching-strap on the reverse sideo'f the body, when the shoulder-straps are provided with the slides C and C', having a catch and hook, c and c', substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof', I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

1 C. H. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

EDWIN JAMES, JOHN D. BLooR. 

